Optical projection apparatus



Jan. 2, 1951 M. E. MILLER OPTICAL PROJECTION APPARATUS Filed June 14,1948 I111 Emmi l atenteci jam. 2,

OFFICE OPTICAL PROJECTION APPARATUS Monroe E. Miller, Washington, D. 0.

Application June 14, 1948, Serial No. 32,899

4 Claims.

This invention relates to optics, and aims to provide a novel method ofand means for projecting an image of the same size as the objectregardless of the distance between that object and the surface on whichthe image is produced, such an invention being useful for a camera whichgives a full size image on a screen or sensitized surface of an objectat various distances away, and also being useful for a magic lantern orstereopticon for projecting a full size image to a screen at variousdistances away.

The invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein v Figure 1is a frontview of an optical instrument embodying the improvement;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line 2-2 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail View of a modification.

In carrying out the invention as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a suitablemetal case 4 has a removable back 5 provided with an opening acrosswhich extends a glass sheet 6, and has a light-receivingopening in itsfront registering with the window 6 and across which a sheet of glass 1extends for making the case dust proof. In the arrangement shown, thewindows 6 and 1 are square in shape and are located above the axis of ascanning wheel mounted in' the case.

The scanning wheel has a front disk 8 provided with numerous lenses 9,and a rear disk I0 having pinholes I l coaxial with the lenses.Telescoped tubes 12 and 13 extend from the respective disks 8 and Hi andsurround the lenses and pinholes in order to prevent the light from anylens reaching other pinholes that the one for which the lens isintended, or vice versa. The inner surfaces of the tubes are blackenedso as to absorb light and prevent unwanted rays from reaching thepinholes or the lenses, depending on the direction the light rays passthrough. The disk 8 may be of glass withthe lenses 9 integral therewith,and the disk I!) is of metal and is secured to the tubes i3. The tubesI2 are secured to a metal disk M in back of the disk 8 and havingopenings for the lenses.

The scanning means thus described comprises numerous light projectorshaving their axes parallel with the axis of rotation about which theyare arranged as compactly as possible, in order to be moved transverselyof their axes between the windows 6 and I. Maximum compactness isobtained by arranging the lenses in a spiral beginning with theoutermost lens 9" and running to the innermost lens 9", as shown by dashlines in Fig. 1, with such lines interrupted for the lenses which arebetween the windows 6 and I as shown in dotted lines. The lenses of theindividual projectors are such as to converge the lines of light raysrearwardly from the lenses through the pinholes, and forwardly to anydistance from the lenses, within a practical limit fo which theinstrument is built.

A shaft [5 extends through and is secured to the disk It, is mounted forrotation in the back of the case, and has a detachable knob 16 on itsrear terminal for conveniently rotating the scanning wheel. The forwardterminal of the shaft [5 is telescoped into a tubular stem I! whichextends beyond the front of the case and has a knob [8 for sliding thelens disk 8 forwardly and rearwardly, the stem being secured to the diskI4.

A semicircular shutter I9 is disposed immediately behind the front ofthe case, and is carried by a tubular stud 20 extending through androtatable in the front of the case and having a knob 2| for convenientlyturning the shutter. The stem l1 slides and turns in the stud 20.

In using the device as a camera for obtaining an image of an object, theinner surface of the glass sheet 6 provides a screen in being frosted orcoated with fluorescent material. The scanning wheel is rotated by handor by any suitable means provided for that purpose, and the lenses areadjusted to bring out the image on the screen. The case or supportingmeans 4 is placed so the projectors are supported parallel with linesextending between the object and the screen. Each individual projectorof the scanning wheel projects a dot image of the object through therespective pinhole H to the screen, and these dot images move alongarcuate lines across the screen, thereby producing parallel imagestripes across the screen. The intersections of the focal lines of theprojectors with the image-receiving surface of the screen are movedcompletely across an area of said surface so each dot image is movedlikewise and produces a continuous image stripe in or on said surfaceextending from one edge of said area to the opposite edge thereof. Inany position of the scanning wheel there are numerous dot projectors infront of the screen, as shown in Fig. 1, and the rotation of the wheelbrings them all into action in succession as they are moved parallel totheir axes about the axis of the shaft l5. The center lines of movementof the successive dot projectors are spaced apart but are closelyassociated so the stripes produced by the moving dot images cover theentire surface of the screen. Such dot images are of brightnesscorresponding with the dots of the object with which they are in line,and the stripes formed by the moving dots vary in intensity and colorvalues as in any image produced by a lens. Though the center lines ofthe parallel image stripes are spaced apart these stripes may overlap sothey cover the entire image area of the screen. The image stripesjointly produce a composite image of the object The provsluction oitheimage cop; responds'with-the scanning of theobject and regardless of howfar away the object is, within practical limitation, the image is offull sizz e;-v Thus, the device may be used in lieu of a telescope forobtaining a full size view or picture of a di'stant object. 1 5

III

For making a photograph, a sensitized or plate is introduced into thespa'oehetween the vi ws of i tev which c nnot. be one. y t 11 M t 'c imrah v n ia. s n e e e n the d re aking pho o rap c x- 1 ifehl 'g ver 3.7 l. utl ehtjan gny a anhehr v ded or it at- (V1315 us d or a mag cantern 9 ass (i "ifclear, and a slide is sk "10 nfi ront Qf. 'sai i' i*3 shows 6. m l d i wh fe ni nh lesi 9d a 1 4 i iiist a of 1 e im te then es 'i rfocueine Q fificfi't e i f i'it Eind disks or. plate 14!; anlfzaj resi fiivel h't s a reng m t in diam, er he mere.

the se 9i eases: fi'th i an 11a th -2 1 16 inroiecto tv *a t'mplisihthel semw e-l so "as, the, len prqi itr here ihei re' d: ecri edTh case 4 ma b prov ded with a y Well known means for the use of films"or plates, and various changes can be made within the scope ofthe'claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. The method of projecting an image consisting in supporting paralleloptical dot image projectors parallel with lines between an object andan area of a surface adapted to receive an image, and thr ving saidprojectors transverse of said o t ov slieee ei ii e we Said object andarea and so the dot image of each projector produces a continuous imagestripe on said surgace from one edge of said area to the epposite eage,with said projectors so arranged "that the lines of the image stripesproelnr iector surpor esl the eh fiq b59051: ti n'ed'be a l w th. ie bewe n, n 7 ob ec r d a area of uriace adap ed .tQ ecei e an im e ectqrbeing movable with re e -t means. so a to more n l19id t w s .Jdi hiesand a e v an 7 he q m e of each projector proguc ,acontinuous: str peQnseid rfa'qe rerr o e d 9i sa dar tithe opposite edge, said proj torsbeing; so arrengedthai t e enter line ilt pa e st p pr ii v heresneet eremiers are S l d. apa t. Pa el: are; we: to ether s t jointly produce afull size image o'f-the object;

are scannin d vice. ccord ng 9 1am wherein the projectorsare supportedfor rotation an ut Van-ax s an a e some difie dis ee sajgaxigsg r MNRQEZ i EEEEltEN ES EE- The ,i l e me relie a 9 re ard in the ild iiimJu y-25,1244

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